Improved method of insulating and supporting lightning-rods



M; FOX,

Lightning-Rod Insulator.

No. 27,977 Patented April 24, 1860.

PATENT OFFICE.

MYRON FOX, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVED METHOD OF INSULATING AND SUPPORTING LIGHTNING-RODS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 27,977, dated April 24,1860.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MYRON Fox, of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and Improved Support for Lightning-Conductors; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, which I have prepared with a view to the obtaining of Letters Patent therefor.

In all supports for lightning-rods the glass or other insulating materialisliable to be broken and to fall out. In such condition the insulating of the lightning-rod is destroyed, and the building is liable to damage in case of a stroke of lightning, and the supporters should not be allowed to eXistin such condition. My invention is intended to allow of more ready repair inthis respect than an y supporter before known. In all previous devices for the purpose, so far as such are known to me, the rod must be disconnected from the building for a consider able distance, in order to substi ute new insulating materialin asingle support. The several supporters in such cases are not connected to the rod in such a manner that they can severally bedetachedatnillwithoutdetachinganyother, but require to be slipped on and off over the ends of the rod or over certain sections of the rod, so that in many instances the labor of substituting a perfect for an imperfect insulator has been so formidable as to cause a long postponement of the operation and a final loss or serious damage to the building which it is intended to protect.

The nature of my invention consistsin makingtheinsulatorin two orinoresections, matched together with grooves and projections, so that the several pieces may be readily put together around the rod or conductor without disturbing any other insulator or supporter, and, when in place, will mutually support each other in a proper position. and having in combination with the above a supporter or band made in two or more parts hinged together in such a manner as to allow of its being opened and placed around the insulator after the latter is placed upon the rod, and when screwed or otherwise fastened to the side of a building or other support it binds together the insulator and holds all firmly in place.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation by the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view of the two parts of the insulator separated a short distance, Fig. 2 is aside elevation and partial' section of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan of the support. Fig. A is a side elevation of the same, and Fig. 5is a plan with all the parls placed in position.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in each.

D E is the insulator, made of glass or other proper non-conductor in two parts. I form projections e 0 upon the part E, and corresponding grooves or recesses, (Z d, in the part D. the projections (2 fitting into the recesses (I when the parts I) and E are placed together. Upon the ends of the insulator I iOllll flanges or rims, as represented, to prevent itfronl slipping out of the supporter.

The supporter A B C is constructed in two 7 pars, A and B, of the form rel'n'esrnted, and

these parts are hinged together at the point C, so that they may be opened, as shown by the red lines in Fig. 3, or closed, as shown in black. M is the lightning rod or conductor.

In replacing a broken insulator, D or E, one side, B, only of the support is unscrewed and opened, as shown by the red lines. The new portion is then placed in its proper position, the support A B closed, and ret'astened.

The insulator may be formed without the lower'flange, if desired, in which case it can he removed and a new one substituted without disturbing the supportor rod; butl prefer the form shown,as it is less liable to become accidentally removed.

Having now fully described, my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The insulator formed in two or more sections, D (1 E e, matched together, in combination with the hinged supporter A B C,orits equivalent, made to operate substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

MYRON FOX.

WVitnesses WM. H. HOLLY, Gr. K. BIKER, ISAAC QUINroRn. 

